Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the biopsychosocial, cultural, and institutional factors contributing to loneliness, social isolation, psychological distress, and identity loss among older veterans residing in long-term care environments.
2. Identify evidence-based research on the effectiveness of peer-support interventions in improving social connectedness, reducing loneliness and supporting behavioral health outcomes such as depression and PTSD among aging veterans.
3. Integrate trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and ethically grounded social work practices when developing veteran-centered peer-support models, in accordance with NASW values of dignity, self-determination, and social justice.

Presenter Bio

Ms. Eko earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Yaoundé II, Soa, Cameroon, along with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky, where she completed the advanced standing program. She is licensed as a Certified Social Worker in Kentucky and has prior experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant, which informs her interdisciplinary approach to aging and care. Her academic background underscores her well-rounded expertise and dedication to social work and advocacy.

She currently works as a Homehealth Social Work Consultant, providing social support to vulnerable adults, assessing and assisting with activities of their daily living (ADL), coordinating care, preventing abuse, and advocating for aging populations across institutional and community-based care settings. Her extensive practice experience in long-term care and home healthcare settings demonstrates her dedication and expertise in supporting older adults with complex needs. Her commitment to ethical and evidence-based practice underpins her approach to client care and professional development.

Her scholarly interests encompass geriatric social work, elder and child abuse prevention, homelessness, social isolation, care transitions, palliative and hospice care, and health equity for aging populations. Her doctoral capstone project investigates peer-support interventions for older veterans in long-term care facilities to enhance psychosocial wellbeing, social connectedness, and quality of life, reflecting her commitment to research and evidence-based practice.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.